Refrigerating mechanism



Sept. 20, 1932. MUFFLY 1,878,798

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM I Filed March 21. 1929 EM 2 a ,6 A 240 1a 15 I/llllllllllllllllljg ll I II I gLi/v/v MUFFLX A/W jwl/w A TTORNE YPatented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLENN MUFFLY, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO COPELAND PRODUCTS, INC; F DETROIT,MICHIGAN REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Application filed March 21, 1929.Serial No. 348,834.

This invention relates to mechanical refrigeration systems andparticularly to systems employing a circulating fluid adapted towithdraw heat from the area surrounding one portion of its circuitthrough its evaporation from liquid to gaseous form.

One object is to subject a confined body of liquid of predeterminedfreezing point to the temperature reduction effected in a circulatoryrefrigerating system, and to utilize the expansion of said bodyresultant from its freezing to automatically shut off circulationthrough the system when the same reaches said temperature.

Another object is to utilize the pressure variation resulting frominterrupting circulation as above described to automatically deenergizethe means inducing circulation.

Still another object is to provide a valve, controlling circulation in arefrigerating system, and to control said valve by the expansion andcontraction of a confined fluid, incident to its transformation.

These and various other objects in the invention attain by theconstruction herein described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view in front elevation andvertical section of a refrigerator equipped with the herein disclosedsystem.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a valve automatically regulatingthe flow of refrigerant through said system, showing a fragmentaryportion of the evaporating chamber which carries said valve.

In these views the reference character 1 designates the usual box .orcasing of a refrigerator, its upper portion forming a chamber 2 to becooled, and a lower compartment 3 receiving a unit comprising a compressor 4, a motor 5 driving said compressor, a condenser 6 connected tothe outlet of said compressor and a receiver 6a into which the condenserdischarges. \Vithin the chamber 2 and preferably in the upper portionthereof is installed an evaporator 7 which may be variously formed, butas illustrated has a central opening 8 within which provision may bemade for forming ice cubes or otherwise utilizing the low temperaturethere prevailing.

Refrigerant is delivered from the compressor 4 to the condenser 6 andthence through the receiver 6a and a delivery (or high pressf'ie) line 9to the evaporator 7, opening preferably into the upper portion of thelatter, and a return (or low pressure) line 10 for the refrigerantconnects the upper portion of the evaporator with said com pressor.

For automatically controlling circulation, there is inserted in thedelivery line 9 a control valve comprising a body 11 having arefrigerant passage 12 therethrough, and having a stem 13 reciprocatorytransversely to said passage and adapted to control the flowtherethrough. Said stem projects downwardly into a housing 14 attachedto the body 11 by bolts 15 or the like, and through which the returnflow of refrigerant from the evaporator is effected. Thus, as bestappears'in Fig. 2, the evaporator is surmounted by an outlet fitting 16supporting the unit 11, 14 and opening into the upper portion of thehousing 14, the latter being formed in its lower portion with adischarge fitting 17 connected. to the line 10.

Within the housing 14, the stem 13 terminally carries ahead 18 closingand sealing the upper portion of an annularly corrugated expansible andcontractible metallic chamber 19 which is integrally closed at its lowerend. The chamber 19 is completely filled with a liquid of a freezingpoint substantially equal to the minimum desired temperature to beestablished by the system, as Water or water treated with suflicicntalcohol, salt or the like, to effect a predetermined lowering of itsfreezing point.

It is highly important to avoid any flow of refrigerant from the highpressure passage 12 to the low pressure chamber 14, such as mightpossibly occur around the valve stem 13. As a safeguard against suchleakage, an expansible corrugated chamber 20 having sealing engagementwith the head 18 extends upwardly therefrom and is outwardly flanged atits upper end and clamped between the body 11 and housing 14. Thechambers 19 and 20 may be, and preferably are integral, as shown.

Downward ex ansion of the chamber 19 is prevented by enc o'sing saidchamber in a cup- 8 shaped sheet metal member 21, the wall of which isperforated, as indicated at 22, and the upper end of which is outwardlyannularly flanged at 23 and clamped between the casin 11 and housing 14.

It will e evident that when the valve member 13 is seated therefrigerant will no longer be circulated through operation of comressor4 but will be continuously withdrawn rom the evaporator through thehousing 14 and line 10 and accumulated in the receiver 6a. The pressurereduction which gradually results in the line 1Q is utilized to controloperation of the compressor. Thus, at some suitable point in said lineand preferably in the compartment 3 there is connected a regulator 24:responsive to predetermined pressure variations in said line and adaptedas well known in this art to control a switch exercising control of theelectric circuit 25 of the motor 5 to start or stop said motor accordingas the pressure in the line 10 rises or falls between said predeterminedlimits.

Discharge of the refrigerant into the evaporator 7 from the line 9 maybe controlled by an expansion valve 26, as shown in Fig. 1, or

by providing a discharge connection from the passage 12 to theevaporator through a highly restricted pipe connection 27, as Fig. 2illustrates, commonly known as a capillary tube, or by other means.

In the operation of the described system, when the compressor isrunning, such refrigerant as occupies the evaporator 7 in gaseous formis continuously withdrawn through the pipe line 10 and delivered, aftercompression, to the condenser 6, where it is liquefied. From thecondenser the refrigerant passes through the receiver 6a and back to theevapor: her through the delivery line 9.

The expansion valve 26, or the restricted pipconnection 27, acts tocontrol the refrigerant delivery to the chamber 7, which results, inaccordance with well understood principles, in a gradual reduction oftemperature in th chamber 7 through the expansion of the incomingrefrigerant. When the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the chamber7 and passing through the chamber 14 has been reduced to the freezingpoint of the fluid body in the chamber .19, said body will congeal andconsequently expand. thereby raising the stem 13 and seating the valveformed by the upper end of said stem.

Circulation of the liquid refrigerant being thus interrupted, thecontinued operation of the compressor will serve only to accumulate theliquefied refrigerant in the receiver 6a and to continually withdraw thegaseous refrigerant from the chamber 7, so as to progressively lower thepressure of gas in said chamber and in the suction line 10 When thepressure reaches a predetermined mint mum value, the control device 24responds by opening the motor circuit and stopping the.

motor 5 and compressor 4.

i The system then remains idle until the gradual rise of temperature inthe compartthe motor circuit and again start the motor 5 and compressor4.

It is preferred to form the liquid-receiving portion of the chamber 19of a sufficiently small size that the transformation of the conditionsof saidportion from liquid to solid state and vice versa, may be quiterapidly accomplished when the temperature necessary to suchtransformation is reached.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of myinvention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill theobjects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change wihin thespirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerant control valve comprising a body formed with arefrigerant passage, a stem reciprocatory in said body to control saidpassage, 21 head carried by said stem and spaced from said body, anexpansible container engaging said head at one end thereof for actuatingthe stem, an abutment carried by said body for the other end of saidcontainer, a housing surrounding the container carried by said body andformed with a refrigerant-inlet and outlet, an expansible containerconnecting said head with said body, the body being formed with anopening from said passage to the last named contalner.

2. A refrigerant control valve comprising a body formed with arefrigerant passage, a valve member controlling said passage, a housingsecured to said body, a head carried by said stem within said housing,an expansible container within said housing secured at one end to saidhead, an abutment for the ment 2 has resulted in melting of the frozenother end of said container within said hous- 3. In arefrigerantcirculating system, .in

an evaporator, a duct connecting said condenserand sa1d evaporator, aduct connectlng said evaporator and said compressor, a duct connectingsaid com ressor and said condenser, means in the rst mentioned duct forthrottling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, means in said firstmentioned duct and between the condenser and the last mentioned meansfor stopping the flow of refrigerant therethrough, and means responsiveto temperature changes in said evaporator for controlling the secondmentioned means.

4. In a refrigerant circulating system, in combination, a compressor, acondenser and an evaporator, a duct connecting saidcondenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and said compressor, aduct connecting said compressor and said condenser, means in the firstmentioned duct for throttling the flow of refrigerant therethrough,means in said first mentioned duct and between the condenser and thelast mentioned means for stopping the flow of refrigdenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and said compressor, aduct connecting said compressor and said condenser, means in the firstmentioned duct for throttling the flow of refrigerant therethrough, avalve in said first mentioned duct for stopping the flow of refrigeranttherethrough, and means responsive to tempera-- ture changes in saidevaporator for controlling said valve.

6. In a refrigerant circulating system,in combination, a compressor, acondenser and an evaporator, a duct connecting said condenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and said-compressor, aduct connecting said compressor and said condenser, an expansion valvein the firstv mentioned duct, a shut-off valve in said first mentionedduct for stopping the flow of refrigerant therethrough, and meansresponsive to temperature changes in said evaporator for controllingsaid shut-01f valve.

7. In a refrigerant circulating system, in combination, a compressor, acondenser and an evaporator, a duct connecting said condenser andsaid'evaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and'said compressor,a duct connecting said compressor and said condenser, means in the firstmentioned duct for throttling the flow of refrigerant therethrough,means in said first mentioned duct for stopping the flow of refrigeranttherethrough, and means responsive to temperature changes in saidevaporator for controlling the second mentioned means, the lastmentioned means comprising a member actuated by a liquid adapted to atleast partially freeze during normal operation of said system.

8. In a refrigerant circulating system, in combination, a compressor, acondenser and an evaporator, a duct connecting said c0ndenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and said compressor, aduct connecting said compressor and said condenser, an expansion valvein the first mentioned duct, a shut-off valve in said first mentionedduct for stopping the flow 6f re- ,frigerent therethrough, and a membercontaining a liquid adapted to at least partially freeze during normaloperation of said system exposed to the temperature of said refrigerantadjacent the evaporator outlet openin and operatively connected to saidshut-o valve. i

9. In a refrigerant system, in combination, a condenser, a compressor,and an evaporator, a. duct connecting said condenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporatorand said compressor, a ductconnecting said condenser and said compressor, means in the firstmentioned duct for throttling the flow of refrigerant therethrough,means in said first mentioned duct and between the condenser and thelast mentioned means for stopping the flow of refrigerant therethrough,and means responsive to temperature changes in said evaporator forcontrolling the'second mentioned means.

10. In a refrigerant circulating system, in combination, a compressor, acondenser and an evaporator, a duct connecting said-condenser and saidevaporator, a duct connecting said evaporator and said compressor, a

GLENN MUFFLY.

; mentioned means.

duct connectingsaid compressor and said conf

